There are two types of bridge players in the world: those who join clubs, and those who don’t.

Your reasons for club membership (or not) are entirely your own. It’s possible to play bridge without being a member of any clubs, but there are still great reasons to join one.

I’ll leave that up to you.

For readers who would like to join a bridge club for the first time, getting to know your bridge club is pretty important.

Do some initial research on your chosen bridge club, and ask the right questions.

What are the right questions?

Well, I’m glad you asked.

Here are some important questions to ask new bridge clubs (before you join).

“Who are you?”

The founding history of a bridge club is an important part of who they are today. As part of researching a bridge club for the first time, look into their story.

A basic outline of how they came to be is usually available on the website, but not always. When it isn’t, leave a message in their inbox to ask. More often than not, they’ll appreciate questions from interested members.

“Where are you?”

If you’re planning on any in-person bridge, don’t forget to ask where the club is located.

The majority of bridge clubs have a map on their website. Smart bridge clubs include maps and directions.

Do you have to join a local club? Not necessarily, but this can depend on the rules of individual bridge clubs. Hence, it’s better to ask.

“Are you a member of (insert larger organization here)?”

The majority of bridge clubs are members of larger, parent bridge organizations that make sure things are running the way they should.

Smaller, social clubs can be an exception.

Ask your club about their membership (for example, with the ABA or ACBL), and double-check with the organization stated.

“Do you host any open events?”

As with most clubs that require membership, events and meetings can be restricted to club members. Where this is the case, most clubs host open events where interested members can participate or kibitz games.

Open events are the best way to experience the feel of the club and meet some people.

Don’t get the right feel? That’s okay, try another club.

“Do you have added resources for members?”

Clubs and resources go together well.

Bridge clubs have newsletters, free downloads, access to bridge teachers, and often a partnership desk that connects you to other players.

It’s always a good idea to ask what the club has to offer before joining.

“What are your membership fees – and are there added ones?”

Any good negotiation eventually follows the money.

When getting to know your bridge club, it’s also a good idea to ask.

Membership fees are sometimes public (and sometimes not). Ask before joining, and ask anyway in case the information on the website hasn’t been updated in a while.

Ask about any additional, added, or extra costs. Sometimes things like entry fees are separate.

“Does someone know first-aid?”

While it’s not the first question that comes to mind when I mention the words “bridge” and “club”, it’s an important one.

If you’re planning on face-to-face bridge games, first-aid is vital. Emergencies aren’t planned when they happen, but they can be planned for. That’s the point.